Strange things begin to happen the minute young Kay Harker boards the train to go home for Christmas and finds himself under observation by two very shifty-looking characters. Arriving at his destination, the boy is immediately accosted by a bright-eyed old man with a mysterious message: “The wolves are running.” Soon danger is everywhere, as a gang of criminals headed by the notorious wizard Abner Brown and his witch wife Sylvia Daisy Pouncer gets to work. What does Abner Brown want? The magic box that the old man has entrusted to Kay, which allows him to travel freely not only in space but in time, too. The gang will stop at nothing to carry out their plan, even kidnapping Kay’s friend, the tough little Maria Jones, and threatening to cancel Christmas celebrations altogether. But with the help of his allies, including an intrepid mouse, a squadron of Roman soldiers, the legendary Herne the Hunter, and the inventor of the Box of Delights himself, Kay just may be able rescue his friend, foil Abner Brown’s plot, and save Christmas, too. At once a thriller, a romp, and a spellbinding fantasy, The Box of Delights is a great English children’s book and a perfect Christmas treat.

"Gotelli has selected more than 550 [Christmas-oriented] full-color photographs of his compendia of antiquities and oddities that seem to jump from Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe of Queen Victoria's time. In addition, the professor reveals a rare glimpse behind the scenes for an insider's view of how such displays come to life in his home and on tour"--Dust jacket flap.

A centuries-old favorite holiday carol, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" was one of the first to celebrate the secular tradition of gift-giving. This sumptuously illustrated version features not only the gifts of a suitor to his true love but a loving family's Christmas preparations, how to say "Merry Christmas" in 12 different language, and a vast array of charming woodland animals.

"Heaven's Delight" is a feelgood romantic comedy novel about getting a second chance at life and finding meaning and value in a tumultuous world. Beth Woodson is a thirtythree- year-old cynical, self-centred Londoner who God sends back to earth to make up for her past sins, which include infidelity, being a terrible manager to her staff and a dishonest friend. She has six days to help bring together four couples of different ages and backgrounds, to learn the real values of love, friendship and honour. When you're a cynical, non-committal, couldn't-care-less-aboutchildren, thirty-three year-old woman, how do you help others fall in love? Especially when you possess no angel power and have to be a normal human being again. And if that weren't enough, the devils have been observing Beth. They're furious that God took her to heaven when her selfdestructive madness belongs in hell, so they make it their mission to cause destruction on earth and get her back where she belongs. Matters are further complicated when she falls madly in love with Chris, but has to hide her true identity from him. If Beth succeeds in her goals, her sins will be forgiven and she can return to earth. But if she fails, she'll be condemned to an eternity in hell...